Hydrostatic mechanical lubricator



HYDROSTATIC -MECHANICAL LUBRICATOR 2, 1943. K. M. ANDERSQN 2,312,304

K. M, ANDRsoN HYDROSTATIC-MECHANICAL LUBRICATOR 3 Sheets-Smet 2 INVENTOR.

Filed Oct. 7, 1,941

a'wa /J ifm/amm March 2, V194s.

K. M. ANDERSON HYDROSTATICMECHANICAL LUBRICATOR Filed Oct. '7. 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 mNVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 2, 1943 UNITD S'i ori-ics 7 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanical force-feed lubricators, and particularly to such lubricators as are adapted for lubricating the steam chests of locomotives, and other similar mechanisms.

The lubricator, in accordance with one embodiment of this invention, may employ hydrostatic pressure to feed the supply of lubricant to the forcing cylinders for distribution to the points to be lubricated, or, in another embodiment, may employ gravity feed to supply lubricant to the forcing cylinders.

- A principal object of this invention is to provide a form of lubricator which is much simpler in construction, and is less subject to the various difliculties frequently experienced with other lubricators heretofore used.

Y. Another important object is the provision of individual lubricant-forcing units, which are fully self-contained in all their essential working parts, and which are simply and easily removable bodily from the lubricator housing for replacement or repair, with a minimum amount of disruption of the operation of the other lubricant forcing units, where a plurality of such units are mounted in a common housing.

Other objects include the provision of sim-r plied means for adjusting the displacement of the lubricant-forcing pistons, and for automatically locking the pistons in their adjusted positions, without removal of the forcing units from the lubricator housing.

Other and more specific objects and advan` tages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, Which illustrate one embodiment in accordance With this invention. It will be understood that various changes may be made in the details of this invention within the scope of the appended claims but without departing from the spirit of this invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal generally sectional view of the lubricator of this invention, having some of the internal parts cut away for purposes of betterillustration;

. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the lubricator taken along line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along line 3--3 of Fig. 2 to better illustrate certain of the details of the lubricator; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a lubricator in accordance with this invention.

1 to 3 inclusive, the lubricator includes a boxlike container I adapted to contain a supply Aof lubricating oil. The container is preferably constructed of metal of sufficient strength to withstand substantial interna1 pressures. A filler opening, closed by a screw plug 3, is providedin the top of the container for supplying lubricating oil thereto, and a screwed connection 4 is kReferring to the drawings, particularly to Figs.

provided near the bottom of the container for the admission thereto of a suitable hydrostatic pressure fluid, such as steam condensate, which is supplied through a pipe 5 connected to a connection 4. A valved drain plug 6 is connected into the bottom of the container for emptying the same when desired, and a sight glass 1 is provided at one end of the container near the top thereof for showing the level of lubricating oil in the container. A plurality of openings 8, each provided with an annular packing shoulder 9 adjacent its upper edge, are provided in the top of the container. The openings 8 are arranged in longitudinal alignment and spaced from each other.

A plurality of individual lubricant-forcing units, each designated generally by the numeral I0, extend vertically through the openings 8 .into the interior of the container. Since the units I0 are identical in construction, the following detailed description of one of these units will be understood to be applicable to all. These units comprise a generally cylindrical body having an upper dischargehead I I of relatively large diameter, which extends above the top of container I, and a cylinder body I2 of reduced diameter extending below the top of the container into the interior thereof. A flange I3 extends laterally about the base of head I I and provides means for rigidly fastening the unit to the top of the container by means of cap screws I4. Just beneath flange I3, an annular shoulder I5 is provided about the upper end of cylinder body I2 which is generally complementary to packing shoulder 9, and a ring gasket I6 is interposed between the shoulders 9 and I5 to tightly seal opening!! when the unit Il] is fastened in place therein by tightening down the cap screws I4. Discharge head II has an axial bore I'I, threaded internally` at I 8, at its upper end and terminating at its lower end in a tapered annular valve seat I9 which surrounds the upper edge of an axial passageway 20 of smaller diameter than bore I'I. A ball check valve 2l is disposed in bore I1, cooperating with valve seat I9 to open and close passageway 20. A valve spring 2v2 is also disposed in bore I1 in contact with check valve 2I and acts to normally hold check valve 2I on seat I9 under pressure applied by means for a threaded spring follower 23 which is screwed into the upper end of bore I1 by engagement with threads I8, and which serves also to plug the top of bore I1. A passageway 24, communicating with bore I1, extends laterally through the side of head II and has connected thereto a lubricantl discharge pipe 25 which leads to the point to be lubricated by the unit I6. Passageway 20, bore I1 and passageway 24, constitute the discharge passageway for the unit.

The cylinder body I2 is also bored axially to provide a cylinder 26 for the reception of a lubricant-forcing piston 21, the cylinder V26 ltapering at its upper end and communicating with the lower end of the restricted passageway 23. An intake port 23 extends laterally through cylinder body I2 at a point adjacent the top ofthe containerand provides communication between cylinder 26 fand the upper vportion of container I. The lower end, I2a of cylinder body I2 is further reduced in external diameter to provide an annular-'shoulder 29. The upper end portion of piston 21 isjreduced in'diameter to form a boss 33 which i's`provided with a diametric slot 3| in'its upper surfacefor engagement by a suitable adjusting tool, in a manner and for I'a purpose to be more fully explained hereinafter. The lower end of piston 21, which extends below body l2, is threaded externally at 32 and threadedly attached thereto is a cam'follower 33 having an internally threaded socket v31 for the reception of the threaded 'end of piston 21. Cam follower 33 is provided on its upper face with a short annular boss 34. A coil spring 35 surrounds the exposed portion ofpiston 21 extending between the lower end of body I2 vand the'upper face of cam follower 33. The upper end of spring 35 surrounds the lower end portion I2a and'seats against the shoulder29, while' the lower end'of spring 35 surrounds boss 34 and seats against the upper face of cam follower 33, and in this arrangement, is held 'under compr-essionso as to normally thrust cam follower 33 downwardly and thereby pull piston21 downwardly in cylinder' 26.

Anopening 36 (Fig. 3) is bored horizontally through the body of cam follower 33 into communication with ,the internally threaded socket 31 in which thethreaded lower end ofA piston 21 is received. V The inner end of opening 36 is slightly restricted to form a seat for a steel locking ball 38 which is disposed in bore 36 so as to normally protrude slightly into socket 31. Ball 38 is yieldably held in this position by means of a coil spring 39 mounted in the outer end of opening 36, and is held pressed against ball 38 by means of -a pin 4I, which is inserted in the transverse hole 42 drilled at right angles to the hole 36 through the cam follower 33. The threads'32 on thelower end of piston 21 areprovided with a number vof longitudinal slots 43 into which the portion of ball 38 protruding into socket 31 will be pressed when these slots come into registration with the inner end of opening 36. The engagement of ball 38 with the slots 43 acts to lock piston 21 against undesired rotation in socket 31, such as may tend to occur as a result of vibration during reciprocation of the piston. Of course, when positive rotative pressure is applied to turn piston 21, the ball 38 will be forced outwardly in opening 36 against the pressure of spring 39, permitting the piston to turn in the threads of socket 31 until the next slot 43 ycomes into registrationwith the ball. A atfgui-de member 44, for guiding the cam follower 33 during its reciprocation, is rigidly attached at one side to cylinder body I2 and extends downwardly parallel to piston 21 and terminates at its lower end in an under-turned lip 45 which extends under the adjacent bottom edge of cam follower 33, and which serves to prevent cam follower 33 and piston 21 from becoming disengaged from the cylinder I2 when removing pumping unit I6 from container I, and serves also to stilfen and retain in their assembled relation all of the parts constituting the lubricant forcing unit I0.

'Extending substantially centrally through the lower portion of container I from end-to-end thereof is a shaft 46 having a bearing 41 in one end of container` I, the opposite end of the shaft having a bearing 48 in the opposite endof the container and extending exteriorly thereof through a packed stuffing box 49. The outer end of shaft 4'6 carries a ratchet wheel 5U which is engaged by pawls flcarried in a spider 52 which is attached to a pivoted driving member 53, which is in turn connected to'some suitable reciprocating element of the machine to be lubricated not shown) in a more or less conventional manner for driving the shaft 46Vin an intermittent or st'ep-by-st'e.)'rotation. Obviously, shaft 46fmay be otherwise intermittently or continuously rotatedgs'u'cli drives being more-or less conventional for force-feed lubricators, and selection of a particulartype of rotation of shaft 46 being largely dependent upon the s-ervice in which the lubricatoris to be employed. i

Shaft 46 carries a plurality of 'eccentric cams 54, one of which registers with each of the camA followers 33 of the several lubricant-forcing units Ill. These cams 54 are preferably set at different angles so as to vary the relative timing of the strokes of the several forcing pistons, althoughit will be understood that all of the'camsmay be atthe same angle, if it is desired Yto have all of the units discharge simultaneously. C-am followers 33 are, of course, normally held in yieldable contact with their'correspondin'g cams '54 by the compressiveaction of springs 35.

A heating coil 55 extends into container I and is'provided exterior-ly of the container with an inlet connection 56 and an outlet connection' 51 for circulation through coil`55 of a suitable heating fluid, such as steam, hot water, and the like, for maintaining the body of 'lubricantin the container in fluid state under low temperature conditions. Other conventional forms of heaters may, of course, be used 'in place ofthe specific form' herein described.

In operation, lwhenV the vlubricator is employed to lubricate the Ysteam chest of a locomotive, for example, a supply of lubricating oil isintroduced into container I through llenopening'l'which is then tightly closed by meansof plu'g'3. Lubricant discharge pipes 25 are connected to` the points to be lubricated and a supply of hydrostatic'pressure fluid, such steam condensate under-the pressu're'of the steam chest to Vwhich the lubricant is to be forced, is 'admittedV throughpip 5 into the lower portion of containerl, 'where it acts t0 float the body of lubricating oil to the upper portion of container I. Sufficient hydrostatic'ffluid is thus continuously'admitted to container Ie-to at all times, maintain thelevel of 'lubricating'oil in the container above the level of intake ports 28. Rotation of shaft 46, acting through the cams 54, produces the lubricant-forcing s'trokesfof-the pistons 21, which on the down stroke, as lsh'vfvn inthe'ce'nter unit I6 'in Fig. 1, draws the'oilinto cylinder 26 through intake port' 28, and on the 11p-stroke, as shown in the view of the right hand unit I in Fig. 1, forces the oil through passageway 2D, check valve 2|, bore I1, and thence through discharge passageway 24 into pipe 25, whence the lubricant is discharged. to the point to which it is to .be supplied.

By employing the described hydrostatic feed under substantially the same pressure against which the lubricant is discharged, the only pressure against which the forcing pistons 21 are required to work is the weight of check valve 2| and the compressive strength of spring 22, which is ordinarily made'quite small, and the excess pressure is, therefore, substantially negligible in a lubricating system of the kind here described. This arrangement assures a continuous oW of lubricant through pipes 25, and the overhead feed eliminates the -necessity for protective screens about suction ports 28 and assures a continuous supply of clean oil to the cylinders 26, since any sediment which may be present in the oil will ordinarily settle by gravity to the bottom of the container. If one of the discharge pipes 25 should break while the device is under hydrostatic pressure, then by means of the described construction and arrangement of the parts of each forcing unit, the excess of the hydrostatic pressure which would immediately develop within the container would force the cam follower 33 and piston 21 of that unit upward and force the piston past port 28, thus automatically closing off the supply of lubricating oil and effectively preventing further discharge of lubricant from that unit and would also prevent further operation of that unit, since spring 35 is not sufficiently strong to overcome the excess hydrostatic pressure developed.

Adjustment of the displacement of piston 21 in order to vary the quantities of o-il discharged, is rendered quite simple and quick by the arrangement provided in accordance with this invention, without requiring the removal of the unit from the container. Screw plug 23 is removed from bore I1, spring 22 is also withdrawn, and ball valve 2| is extracted Iby means of a suitable tool, such as a magnetized screw driver, for example. A screw driver, or other suitable fiat-edged tool, is then inserted through bore I1 and passageway 20 and engaged in slot 3| of the piston boss 30. The piston is then rotated thereby to screw it either up or down in socket 3`| of cam follower 33, to thereby lengthen or shorten the movement of piston 21 above port 28 as desired. The torque thus applied to piston 21 is sufficient to turn the latter against the pressure applied to lock ball 38 by spring 39, the ball being thrust back into bore 36 while the turning of the piston takes place. When a sufcient number of turns has lbeen made to produce the desired lengthening or shortening of the piston displacement, as the case may be, the nearest slot 43 is brought into registration with ball 38 which then thrusts into the slot and automatically locks the piston against any further rotative movement which may occur under operating conditions. Check valve 2|, spring 22 and plug 23 are then replaced and the unit is ready for operation on the adjusted displacement, without having removed the unit I0 from the container.

An entire lubricant-forcing unit may be bodily removed for repair or replacement without disturbance of the other units, merely by removing the cap screws I4, and withdrawing the unit bodily from the container. If another unit is not immediately available for replacement, the opening 8 may be closed by a suitable cap and the lubricator continued inoperation with'the remaining units at their full' eiciency. With the form and arrangement of the individual units Ill, in accordance with the embodiment herein described, it will be seen that each of the units I0 is entirely independent of the others, and failure of one in no way impairs or affects the eiciency or operability of the others. It will be understood that any desired number of lubricant forcing units I0 may be employed.

While the lubricator, above described, is adapted particularly for employment with hydrostatic feed of the lubricant to the forcing units, it will be evident that the lubricator may also be used with gravity feed, it being necessary only to turn the device through an angle 0f 180 degrees about shaft 46 to operate in this way, the functioning of the individual units IU being in no vway adversely affected by this change of position.

Fig. 4 illustrates another form of lubricator in accordance with this invention in that the container 58 is cylindrical in form, being preferably constructed of a length of pipe or tubing adapted to withstand relatively high internal pressures. In this case the lubricant forcing unit I0 is provided with a flange 59 which does not employ a shoulder I5, as in the previously described emL bodiment for sealing the unit in the container but rests directly on a flat seating surface 60 mounted on the exterior of container 58. A flat ring gasket 6I is interposed between flange 59 and seating surface 6B to seal the opening 52 in the top of the container. In all other respects, this modification is substantially identical with that previously described, the corresponding parts accordingly being designated by the same numerals. This embodiment shown in Fig. 4 functions, of course, in the same manner as that previously described.

Wha I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: w

l. A lubricator, having an oil reservoir, a lubricant forcing unit applicable to and removable bodily from said reservoir and comprising an elongated body extending into said reservoir, said body having an axial bore extending throughout its length, a discharge port communieating with one end of said axial bore exteriorly of said reservoir, the opposite end portion of said bore within said reservoir constituting the forcing cylinder, an intake port communicating with said cylinder interiorly of said reservoir and adjacent the wall thereof through which said body is inserted, check valve means disposed in said bore between said discharge and intake ports to control communication therebetween, a piston slidably positioned in the outer end of saidcylinder, a cam follower threadedly engaging the outer end of said piston whereby longitudinal adjustment therebetween may be effected, and means carried by the inner end of said piston and engageable through said axial bore from the ex- `terior thereof for effecting rotation of said piston relative to said cam follower, and means for irnparting reciprocating movement to said piston.

2. A lubricator, having an oil reservoir, a lubricant forcing unit applicable to and removable bodily from said reservoir and comprising an elongated body extending into said reservoir, said body having an axial bore extending throughout its length, a discharge port communicating with one end of said axial bore exteriorly of said reservoir, the opposite end portion of said bore within said reservoir constituting the forcing cylinder, an intake port communicating with said cylinder interiorly of said reservoir and adjacent the wall said disc'harge'and intakeports'tocontrol communication therebetween, a piston `slidably positioned in the outerend vof said cylinder, a cam follower threadedly `engaging the outer vend of said piston whereby longitudinal adjustment 'therebetween may be effected,vmeansicarried'by V the inner end of said ipiston :and Aengageable through said axial bore from the exterior thereof for effecting rotation'of said piston relative to `said cam follower,` locking means carried by said follower and cooperating withithe threaded portionl of saidpiston` for locking said pistonto said follower, and means for impartingreciprocating movement to said piston.

3.'A lubricator according to claim 1 wherein said forcing unit'includes a flat Aguide member for said follower rigidly lattached to said body extending parallel to said piston and having a portion cooperating with said follower to limit the outward movement thereof lrelative to'said cylinder.

4. A lubricator according to claim 2 wherein said locking means carried by said cam follower includes a recess in said follower, a ball member yieldably seated in said recess and adapted'xto normallynprotrude therefrom into engagement with locking slots carried by said piston and disposed longitudinally of said threaded-portion thereof.

5. A lubricator, having an oil reservoir withfan opening in one wall thereof, a lubricant forcing unit Aapplicable to and removable bodily from said reservoir through said opening and comprising an elongated body extending into said reser- Voir and having a flange enclosing said opening and furnishing means of attachmentvwith said wall of the reservoir, said body having an axial bore extending throughout its length, a discharge port communicating with/one end of said axial bore exteriorly of Asaid reservoir, the opposite end portion of said bore within said reservoir constituting the forcing cylinder, an intake port communicating with said cylinder'interiorly of said reservoir and adjacent the wall thereof through which said body is inserted, check valve means disposed in said bore between said vdischarge and intake ports to control communication therebetween, apiston sli'dably positioned in the outer end of said cylinder, a cam follower threadedly engaging the outer end'of said piston whereby longitudinal adjustment therebetween may be effected, means carried by the inner end of said piston and engageable through said axial bore from the exterior thereof for effecting rotation of said piston relative to said cam follower, and means for imparting reciprocating move* ment to said piston.

.aarasfoa -.6. S'A mechanical force #feed .lubrl'cator .of fthe type employing 'hydrostatic 'pressure rfeed of lubricating o'il` to .thellubricant Aforcing units and having an .oil reservoir, means -for supplying lubricating oil to said reservoir, vmeans for supplying hydrostatic Afluid under pressure into the lower portion of said reservoir, a pluralityoffindependent .unitary lubricant forcing -units applicable to,v and-removablebodily from .said reser- Avoir-throughthe top thereof, yeach of said-units comprising an elongated b0dy extending into saidreservoirand having-an axialbore extendingthroughoutI its length,a discharge port com- -munioating with oneend portion of said -axial bore, exteriorlyof` said reservoir, the opposite end l.portion of said bore withinsaid reservoir constituting `the forcing ,'cylinder. an `intake lport communicating with said cylinder interiorlyof said reservoir and closely adjacent the top there of, check valve-means disposed in said vbore betweeny said discharge and intakeA ports to-control communication therebetween, av piston slidably positioned in the lower end of said cylinder,.a cam followerrthreadedlyengaging the lower end ofsaid piston'whereby longitudinal adjustment therebetween may be effected,means carried by thefuppervend of said piston and engageable throughsaid axial bore' from the exterior thereof for eifecting rotation of said pistonrelativeto said cam follower, and a shaft rotatably journalled in the lower portion rofsaid reservoir and bearing a plurality of longitudinally spaced cams engaging the cam followers of .said vplurality of forcing units for imparting reciprocating `Inovement to said `pistons-upon rotation of said shaft.

7. A lubricator, 'having v an oil reservoir, Ya lubricant forcingunit, applicableto and removable bodily from-.said reservoir and comprising an elongatedbody extending into said reservoir, said vbody having an axial bore extending throughout its length, a; discharge port communicating with one end portion of said axial bore exteriorly of said reservoir, the opposite end portionxofsaid bore-within said reservoirconstitutingtheuforcing cylinder, an intake port communicating with said'cylinder intei'iorlyrof said; reservoir, check valvemeans disposed in saidbore between said `discharge andV intake ports to ycontrol communication therebetween, a:piston:'slidablyfpositioned in said cylinder, a follower :member adjustablyengaging the outer endi-ofi'saidpiston,.means carriedby the inner end ofV said piston and engageable through said axial bore from the exterior thereof` for effecting longitudinaladjustment of saidv piston relative to said follower member, and means for impartingreciprocating movement Vto said piston.

..KOSCIUSKQ M. ANDERSON. 

